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Welcome to the main discussion thread for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This pinned post is here to establish some basic guidelines. All of the Media Forum rules still apply.

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    Original post 
Since Thor and now Captain America came out this year, I wanted to get what Tropers thought of the concept and execution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Personally I love the idea and wonder why this idea hasn't been seriously tried before. It sorta seems to me like the DCAU in movie form (And well, ummm, with Marvel), and really 'gets' the comic book feel of a shared universe while not being completely alienating.

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 29th 2024 at 3:09:00 PM

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#118726: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:11:45 PM

@Known Unknown: Even regarding that, I don't think the "protagonist novice" route is the only, inexorable, unavoidable one that can be taken. I don't think the movie would be any more clunky or hard to understand if instead of Strange being explained magic he just relayed the necessary info to the token The Watson. When executed in its most barebones form, the device of the novice sidekick ends up being essentially the same thing in purpose (but abridged) anyway.

Edited by Gaon on Jun 27th 2020 at 1:12:23 AM

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#118727: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:14:19 PM

[up][up]

He probably will steal some moves from Spidey. At least some of what Peter does is possible for a really well trained gymnast.

One Strip! One Strip!
Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#118729: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:16:00 PM

[hentie joke]

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#118730: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:18:42 PM

What I want Taskmaster to do is the mad shit of him copying the moves of some movie martial artist but accelerated twice as fast on video (which he can only manage for a few seconds until his muscles snap like violin strings).

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#118731: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:19:24 PM

I honestly don't like it when Taskmaster goes toe-to-toe with superpowered people.

One of his explicit weaknesses in the comics (at least originally) is that he could copy moves, but not powers.

People with superhuman abilities (please, let us not get into another "But peak human IS superhuman!"-debate, I am talking about superhuman as per the in-universe standard) should always be beyond him.

He has kind of the Deathstroke-problem, when writers wank him too much (I think I don't need to remind you on the latters appearance in Identity Crisis).

Edited by Forenperser on Jun 27th 2020 at 10:22:43 AM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
JoLuRo075 Since: Jan, 2019
#118732: Jun 27th 2020 at 1:26:13 PM

Even in a video game he is able to fight Spider-man and was apparently holding back.

I still hope that the weakness of Taskmaster is that it turns out to be a "Jack All of Trades" / "Master of none", that is, he knows all the movements of the heroes, but is not as good at them.

Even Natasha might say, "I fought against the real Bucky and Clint, I wouldn't lose against a cheap impersonation."

Edited by JoLuRo075 on Jun 27th 2020 at 1:28:08 AM

wanderlustwarrior Role Model from Where Gods Belong Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
Role Model
#118733: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:01:55 PM

As a point of order to the previous page, Thanos used the Soul Stone more than just the one time in combat. He also combined it with the Power Stone to knock Drax, Quill, and Nebula unconscious, though the actual energy wave he used to do it was the same purple as the Power Stone.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#118734: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:02:26 PM

If you think about it, being able to copy a move perfectly doesn't necessarily mean you know when to use it.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#118735: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:25:12 PM

I'm still hoping the climax of Black Widow has Taskmaster fighting at x2 speed and Black Widow holding out long enough that he basically tears his own muscles apart.

A classic rope-a-dope strategy.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Weirdguy149 Former King from Lumiose City Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: I'd jump in front of a train for ya!
Former King
#118736: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:27:49 PM

I'd love for the reveal that Taskmaster has Spidey's powers to go like this: Natasha is having a conversation with someone on the phone. Cut up to the ceiling where Taskmaster's spying down on the conversation while clinging to it.

The legend has returned.
Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#118737: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:31:00 PM

Ceiling clinging isn't really a power Taskmaster can copy, unless he's just got fancy gloves that let him do that. In which case anybody could use those, not just Taskmaster.

Spider-Man doesn't really have any techniques worth copying unless you also have his superpowers or steal his web-shooters.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#118739: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:40:52 PM

Gaon: yeah you are right in harry potter, in fact there is a clear divide between students who just pew pew they were out with magic and voldermort and dumblodore who bullshit each other with more shit and that line was never cross in the series, Harry really never learn more creative way to fight.

Hell his fight with voldermot is....both throw a lighting, it bounce and Voldy dies, damn that was a anticlimatic.

What other oponent are good to strange?....maybe doom?

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#118740: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:44:43 PM

@Known Unknown: Even regarding that, I don't think the "protagonist novice" route is the only, inexorable, unavoidable one that can be taken.

I mean, sure. But it's probably the easiest route to take. The best way to explain these things is to explain them to a character and let the audience watch, and the best character for an exploratory perspective is the protagonist.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jun 27th 2020 at 3:11:08 AM

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#118741: Jun 27th 2020 at 2:53:48 PM

I mean the only reason black panther is not a origin story is because people already saw him in civil war, making less of origin story and therefore, easier to do without putting a novice there.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#118742: Jun 27th 2020 at 4:27:52 PM

And even in that, come to think of it there's a lot of them having scenes dedicated entirely to explaining things to characters who should already know it. Zuri does a lot of exposition.

Cortez from Parts Unknown (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#118743: Jun 27th 2020 at 7:57:02 PM

Even in a video game he is able to fight Spider-man and was apparently holding back.

He has fought Spidey in the comics too.

But yeah, he's usually smart enough not to pick fights with guys like the Hulk.

Spider-Man doesn't really have any techniques worth copying unless you also have his superpowers or steal his web-shooters.

He has copied Spidey acrobatics and web swinging.

Edited by Cortez on Jun 27th 2020 at 10:58:56 AM

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#118744: Jun 27th 2020 at 8:01:02 PM

@Known Unknown: It is the easiest route, no doubt. My take is more that it doesn't work well for this source material's appeal in this case. It doesn't play to its strengths in essence (I think Strange leaping from novice to actually pretty good midway through the movie is the movie to some extent realizing this).

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#118745: Jun 27th 2020 at 8:37:31 PM

I was thinking the same thing.

Like I said, while there are somethings that aren't possible for a human to do (I recall hearing someone once tricked Taskmaster into copying Peter a little too well and he badly injured himself trying to bend in a way that only Peter can), a lot of what Spidey does is possible for a comic book Bad Ass Normal.

I also assume Taskmaster even wears a suit that enhances his strength to somewhat simulate some super strong characters.

Hell, with the right equipment, even wall crawling isn't off the table. Chameleon has classically been able to impersonate Spiderman, and Mysterio's initial appearances were based off perfectly impersonating Pete as part of his hoax.

One Strip! One Strip!
Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#118746: Jun 27th 2020 at 10:42:37 PM

That's more because often times writers keep forgetting that Spider-Man is super strong.

I guess you can also chalk it up to him mostly holding back.

I still remember that glorious moment when Peter had finally enough of Kingpin's bullshit, after the latter had Aunt May shot (she survived) and easily beat him within an inch of his life.

Edited by Forenperser on Jun 27th 2020 at 7:43:50 PM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#118747: Jun 27th 2020 at 11:58:24 PM

Is this the same shooting of Aunt May that Peter sold his marriage to undo?

windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#118749: Jun 28th 2020 at 12:54:50 AM

Then I guess a lot of Spidey fans were happy to see someone get a beatdown for causing that story arc.

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#118750: Jun 28th 2020 at 1:08:27 AM

Yeah, what followed afterwards was.....not so good.

But Pete letting the air outta that scumbag was glorious.

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian

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